Hungry, but not where talk is
cheap, is an autobiographical
paraphrase for the maxim atop
this page, that characterizes
red mug, blue linen. Talk was
never cheaper when served for
explaining the United States,
than in the cassoulet called,
the war in Viet Nam. A nation
steeped in chaotic contradic-
tions, pining for self-deter-
mination from them, one enemy
at a time, fell into Viet Nam
to save it from self-possess-
ion. The failure was expected
for many years, before it was
denied in ignominious retreat.
Now that the United States is
riven recreationally, all ov-
er again, beset by preposter-
ous, malicious seeking of ad-
vantage against its maturity,
why revisit that prototype of
vicious hyper-patriotism? Why
not just kick back and bicker?
Why not enjoy restaurant fare?
Sir Max Hastings
Going to the Wars
Macmillan, 2000©
Vietnam: An Epic
Tragedy, 1945-1975
Harper Collins, 2018©
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